News

Snoop Dogg Coming to Rock Band

Note-charting is a fraction of rapper's multimedia deal with MTV, but a big one nonetheless.

The headline says it all. As reported on Giant Bomb and Shacknews, it appears that Snoop Dogg has signed a multimedia deal with MTV which entails a new TV show, co-promotion of the upcoming album "Malice in Wonderland," and select tracks from his "impressive catalog of hits" coming to Rock Band. No further details seem to be available, such as track selection, pricing, or packs, but one can expect that radio edits will likely reign supreme.

- Photo courtesy of snoopdogg.com

Sterling says: I really wanted The Roots as the next hip-hop group in Rock Band after the Beasties, but I don't mind seeing Snoop Dogg break in on the action. Like we recently saw with the first Country Pack, Harmonix wants to diversify the portfolio, and I'm chuckling at the notion of a heavily-bleeped live version of "Ain't No Fun (If the Homies Can't Have None)."

Besides, with Harmonix's refinements to vocal charting in Rock Band 2, I'm sure Snoop's a better gameplay fit in this game than in, say, Lips or Singstar, both of which have middling-at-best rap meters. There's already plenty of grumbling online from the "it's Rock Band, not Rap Band" crowd, but where was everyone when Neversoft snuck Flo Rida's "Low" (by way of Travis Barker) into Guitar Hero: World Tour a few weeks back? I think that if both game franchises are interested in breaking into hip-hop and country, let 'em. More money to grease the palms of bands that everyone can agree on, I say.

Ultimately, the old adage applies: If you don't like it, don't buy it. Agree? Disagree? Feel free to comment!